Bill would extend lay-off notice deadline for teachers

March 21, 2011

PROVIDENCE -- Legislation has been introduced that could easily solve one of the routine headaches faced by the Chariho Regional School District every year.

Rep. J. Russell Jackson, D-Dist. 73 (Newport, Middletown), sponsored a bill that would extend the notification requirements regarding the dismissal, suspension or lay-offs of teachers in the state. The deadline would be pushed from March 1 to June 1.

He offered testimony before the House Committee on Labor on the legislation last week, but it was decided that the bill should be held for further study.

The current deadline causes districts, such as Chariho, to send out numerous pink slips to employees, most of whom end up being recalled anyway.

"[Pushing the date] would eliminate all of this action by the School Committee," Ricci said previously, regarding the need to send out these pink slips.

For example, over the course of the first half of 2010, 38.5 of the 39 teachers whose contracts weren't renewed were recalled. The 0.5 indicates a part-time employee.